Parenting is a tough job. As parents, we are busy from the time our feet hit the floor in the morning until long after our little ones go to bed at night. An endless array of domestic chores, sport practices, homework, and childhood woes can wear down even the most saintly soul. Fortunately, meditation provides…
Parenting
Mindful Parenting: What if my child isn’t extraordinary?
We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Shefali Tsabary to Green Child, as she shares her perspective on mindful parenting and releasing the expectations we have on our children. To learn more about parenting from a place of peace, presence, and connectedness, check out her book, The Awakened Family. Mindful parenting is the purposeful act of being…
Your Six-Week Postpartum Care Plan: A Daily Guide for New Moms
A daily postpartum care plan to help you do something each day that is either useful, productive, or fun throughout the early days of motherhood. Most expectant moms have a birth plan, but the birth rarely goes according to said plan. In fact, some health care professionals and women advocates are recommending that new moms…
Healthy Boundaries: Your Child Doesn’t Owe Anyone a Hug
“Let me squeeze those cheeks!” An adult squeezed my cheeks so hard it left a red mark. This happened a lot during the holidays when I was a child. When visiting friends and family members as a shy child, I was often left feeling awkward from many of these encounters. Part of me wanted to…
Positive Parenting: Roughhousing & Developmental Play
Roughhousing is an important part of developmental play for kids. It can stress you out as a parent, but it’s completely natural and even beneficial in many ways. A kitten makes a sideways run to pounce on her unsuspecting sibling. Two puppies growl and nip each other, all the while thumping their tails with glee….
Fewer Toys, More Fun: Why Kids Benefit from Having Fewer Toys
As grown ups, we’re often overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices we have to make in a day. Life is really no different for our children, on their own scale. Kids benefit from having fewer toys, and you can benefit from creating intentional (and minimal) play options for your child. Is it crazy that…
How NOT to Crush Your Child’s Creativity
As a parent who wants to nurture your child’s creativity and ability to think outside the box, you’ll want to be aware of ways parents and teachers can unknowingly crush a child’s creativity. A child is born with innate talents and creativity. But often by the time they get halfway through elementary school, much…
Autumn Reeser on Living Authentically
In our interview with Autumn Reeser, she shares about life with her two sons, her passion for nature, self-reflection, and some honest advice about motherhood. Raised in Southern California, Autumn Reeser fell in love with acting when she saw her first stage play at age six. At 17, she attended UCLA’s musical theatre program and…
I Don’t Want to Be the Mom Who Yells
Editor’s note: We’re delighted to welcome Carolina King as a new contributor to Green Child. As a mother of two, she’ll be sharing her advice on gentle parenting and positive discipline. Enjoy her first article on how to discipline without yelling. It was early in the morning. My kids were getting ready for school, moving…
Naptime Activism: The Joy of Doing Nothing
Even though this column is called “Naptime Activism,” I want to check my assumption that we need more activism—more activity—and talk about doing less. In fact, I want to talk about the joy of doing nothing. By doing nothing, I’m not talking about a non-work day when you do errands and catch up on the…
Positive Parenting: Stop negative self-talk with this three-letter word
It can be hard to watch our children struggle, especially when they resort to negative self-talk. By supporting them through it – but not solving their problems for them, we can help build their confidence and resilience. Here’s a strategy that involves a simple, three-letter word to help. “I can’t do this.” “This is so…
How Affection Boosts Brain Power in Kids
Feeling loved and secure is key to childhood development, but did you also know that physical and emotional affection play a part? Here’s more on how affection boosts brain power. “A hug a day keeps the doctor away!” That’s what my mother would say before I bounced off to school in the morning. With her…
Avoid Meltdowns by Setting Expectations Children Can Understand
Imagine you wake up one morning excited to be spending the entire day with your friend. You get dressed, and she takes you out. You don’t know what you’re going to do or where you’re going to go, but you’re ready for a fun time. After a while, you realize… it’s not fun. She took…
Kids Who Spend More Time in Nature Become Happier Adults, Study Confirms
You don’t really need a study to tell you this, but it’s worth noting the science behind our intuitive guess that kids who spend more time in nature become happier adults. A new study out of Denmark found that living near and spending time in nature is measurably better for your mental health, both short…
Mothers Share: What I Wish I’d Done During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a short and special time in your life. So it only makes sense to celebrate and enjoy it. Our readers chime in on the topic – What I wish I’d done during pregnancy. Give Yourself Grace “I wish I’d been more patient with myself. I was so forgetful and spacy, but the worst…
Oscha Baby Slings: Ethical & Sustainable Babywearing
If you’re a babywearing mama, you have probably heard of Oscha Baby Slings. These baby sling carriers are made with gorgeous, heirloom quality fabrics. And not only are they beautiful, but these one-of-a-kind designs are also ethically and sustainably made. OSCHA BABY SLINGS ARE CARBON NEUTRAL This brand runs a completely carbon neutral business. Their…
Gentle Discipline: How Positive Time-Outs Could Change Your Child’s Behavior
Making time-outs positive is one way to bring positive discipline into your daily routine. What is a Time-Out? First thing first – we’re rethinking what the discipline term “time-out” has come to mean in modern parenting. Time-outs have an important and effective role. A time-out is a chance for both children and parents to…
Free Range Summer: Letting Kids Be Kids
“Free range” is a term we generally use when talking about healthier animal treatment… not when discussing our upcoming summer plans. But when the broad definition means “to roam freely instead of being contained,” I think the concept of free range summers fits rather beautifully. Have you ever watched a child walk through a forest?…
How to Host an Eco Friendly Birthday Party
Sometimes we make green living more complicated than it should be. The concept is simple – a natural lifestyle should come “naturally,” shouldn’t it? And shouldn’t it be simple to celebrate an eco friendly birthday party? But our culture’s disposable mindset and obsession with consumerism can make it tough to live simply. Especially when…
Simple Tips for Setting Effective Screen Time Limits
Wondering how to set effective screen time limits for your child? You’re not alone. As we become increasingly bombarded by and dependent upon technology, it’s hard to know when to limit screen time. Many schools have replaced textbooks with tablets, so your child may be spending 6+ hours on a screen without any of it…
35 Activities to Treasure While Your Child Is Still Little
The first few years we have with our children can be so busy (and sometimes so overwhelming) that we might not find ourselves thinking about all the things we want to do before they start school. Sometimes we feel like we’re barely making it through the day. You know that bit of parenting wisdom, “The…
7 Ways to Help Environmentally Sensitive Children Thrive
One of the many side effects of pollution and modern technology is the rise in the number of environmentally sensitive children. As we strive toward finding ways to protect and keep the environment clean and safe, the health of our world’s children should be at the top of our priority list. Contaminants are found everywhere in…
Parenting With a Disability: How to Prepare for Your New Baby
Becoming a new parent can feel like you’re walking a tightrope walk of emotions. And when it involves parenting with a disability, this new adventure can seem even more daunting. The latest research shows there are more than 4.1 million disabled parents in the U.S. That means that one in 10 children has a parent who, like…
Supporting Your Toddler Through a Meltdown
Understanding toddler meltdowns and tantrums, and knowing how to support your child through the process is important to your child’s development. Toddlerhood: the time for toddler tantrums Toddlerhood is a time when your child’s wild spirit is just beginning to explore and make sense of the world around him. Your child will naturally experience…
